Not yet heavily touristed, the island's main industry is fishing. However, the island is developing a growing tourist industry in the form of whale shark viewing.

Aerial view of Holbox

The island is accessed by ferry from the mainland town of Chiquila, and has virtually no cars, with transport by most residents and tourists by golf cart or moped. A small airline, Aerosaab, flies tours to Holbox from Cancún and Playa del Carmen; there is even a small airstrip to accommodate Aerosaab's five-seater Cessna aircraft.

The entrance of vehicles is not allowed at Holbox in order to protect the environment and to prevent the streets from getting sand.

Holbox has several alternatives to enjoy nature, but the one that attracts most visitors is the experience of swimming with the impressive whale shark from June to September, an opportunity you can experience in very few parts of the world.

Another alternative is “Isla Pájaros” (Bird Island), a small island covered in mangrove swamps and cacti, located on the Yalahau lagoon, where there is a large diversity of birds, some of them are in danger of extinction, that’s why there are two observation points and walkways – to minimize the direct contact with the birds. Flamingos, cormorants, herons, frigate birds, pelicans, wild ducks and seagulls are just some of the species you can observe in a still natural environment.

This is one of the safest beaches for learning how to kiteboard. There are ideal conditions for beginners; shallow waters, no big obstacles on the wide and long beach, many days of wind during the winter months and a nearby school with professional instructors. Advanced riders can find also very good conditions when the north or south winds reach 25 knots or more.